Karin Slaughter | KISSCUT

Plot (via Goodreads):

Saturday night dates at the skating rink have been a tradition in the small southern town of Heartsdale for as long as anyone can remember, but when a teenage quarrel explodes into a deadly shoot-out, Sara Linton--the town's pediatrician and medical examiner--finds herself entangled in a terrible tragedy.

What seemed at first to be a horrific but individual catastrophe proves to have wider implications. The autopsy reveals evidence of long-term abuse, of ritualistic self -mutilation, but when Sara and police chief Jeffrey Tolliver start to investigate, they are frustrated at every turn.

The children surrounding the victim close ranks. The families turn their backs. Then a young girl is abducted, and it becomes clear that the first death is linked to an even more brutal crime, one far more shocking than anyone could have imagined. Meanwhile, detective Lena Adams, still recovering from her sister's death and her own brutal attack, finds herself drawn to a young man who might hold the answers. But unless Lena, Sara, and Jeffrey can uncover the deadly secrets the children hide, it's going to happen again . . .

Review:

After the amazing Blindsighted and such a strong start to the Grant County series, I was initially a little nervous going into this one. How could you possibly top the first book? Well, Karin Slaughter never ceases to surprise me. The beginning to this one is your typical great evening turned hellish and ends up in devastation. I loved the beginning to this one - it was palpable and shock-inducing. Slaughter is never afraid to really "go there" when it comes to her novels, the plots, and the violence. The fact that this one was so complex and intricate was like climbing a ladder in book form. Every step took me closer  to the truth and by the time I reached the top, it was a vast area of such a large story that I was just completely immersed in.

The way that Slaughter introduces her characters was exceptionally on point with this story. A spiderweb of a plot deserves characters that can really take it one step further and Slaughter's Grant County characters are perfect for this plot. Sara and Jeffrey have tension and romance, Lena is the perfect example of a someone with PTSD, and Sara's family has the perfect moments to show how important family can be. While the plot to this one was really dark and uncomfortable at times, I do appreciate how realistic Slaughter can be when it comes to the harrowing things that can happen in this world.

Rating: 5/5